Arneson Can't Wait

Patrick Teale

11/19/2011

Zach Arneson, this year's 9th round pick out of Lewis & Clark State College, had a solid professional debut season with the Staten Island Yankees. He missed a month with an injury, however, but made up for lost time with a great showing at Instructs and now he says he can't wait to get back out there.

"I felt like it went good," Zach Arneson said of his debut season. "I hit a little bump there in the season getting hurt and being out a month, but I felt like I bounced back pretty well and pitched in the playoffs. We won it all so it was good."

He missed most of July with a pulled lat muscle. It was more precautionary though than serious.

"It was a little bit of a nuisance," he said. "I took a full month off. Right when I came back I was, for a lack of a better term, a little rusty. As I got out into the games more I felt better.

"My arm and my lat felt better so I feel like I got a lot more comfortable out on the mound and stared to pitch like I know I can pitch."

While the numbers with Staten Island were solid -- 2-1, 3.57 ERA and 17 strikeouts in 17 2/3 innings -- it was his stuff that really had scouts take notice. Armed with a fastball that tops out at 97 mph, he has a developing slider with plus potential that became the focal point of his Instructional League this fall.

"During the season sometimes I was choppy with it but I felt like going into the playoffs it was really good and I was happy with it," he said of his slider. "I feel like in Staten Island at times it was very good and I kind of showed it at Instructs, but at Instructs it was just more consistent day in and day out.

"I was throwing it with very good quality. My release point was good too so I feel like I really progressed at Instructs.

"I went down to Florida and I was working on basically my release point, being more consistent with it and having that good tilt [on it] that I've shown at times.

"I went down there and worked with all of the coaches, and I improved tremendously. I just can't wait for next season. I'm ready to start pitching again."

He has a quality changeup at his disposal too even though it took more of a backseat to his slider in-season and during Instructs.

"We wanted to work more on having those two power pitches, the fastball-slider combo," he revealed. "We talked about using the changeup and I used it a bit more in the playoffs.

"At Instructs we were still working more on that slider but this offseason I'm really going to be working on all three of my pitches, but the changeup is definitely going to be included. I'm planning on showing up to Spring Training with all three [pitches]."

A power pitcher who can change speeds and has a bit more consistency now with his breaking pitch, Arneson is clearly excited about trying his hand in the long-season leagues next year.

"I'm really excited, especially after getting hurt. That was kind of a bummer. I only threw something like 17 innings but coming out of Instructs and feeling good with all of my stuff – I'm excited to work on the changeup too – I can't wait to get out there and do it for a full season," he concluded.

Are you a monthly or 3-month subscriber to PinstripesPlus.com? Why not get two months free AND get 4 issues of our PinstripesPlus Magazine included by becoming an annual subscriber? Upgrade today to get the most out of your subscription.

\r\n \r\n\r\n\"I felt like it went good,\" Zach Arneson said of his debut season. \"I hit a little bump there in the season getting hurt and being out a month, but I felt like I bounced back pretty well and pitched in the playoffs. We won it all so it was good.\"\r\n\r\nHe missed most of July with a pulled lat muscle. It was more precautionary though than serious.\r\n\r\n\"It was a little bit of a nuisance,\" he said. \"I took a full month off. Right when I came back I was, for a lack of a better term, a little rusty. As I got out into the games more I felt better.\r\n\r\n\"My arm and my lat felt better so I feel like I got a lot more comfortable out on the mound and stared to pitch like I know I can pitch.\"\r\n\r\nWhile the numbers with Staten Island were solid -- 2-1, 3.57 ERA and 17 strikeouts in 17 2/3 innings -- it was his stuff that really had scouts take notice. Armed with a fastball that tops out at 97 mph, he has a developing slider with plus potential that became the focal point of his Instructional League this fall.\r\n\r\n\"During the season sometimes I was choppy with it but I felt like going into the playoffs it was really good and I was happy with it,\" he said of his slider. \"I feel like in Staten Island at times it was very good and I kind of showed it at Instructs, but at Instructs it was just more consistent day in and day out.\r\n\r\n\"I was throwing it with very good quality. My release point was good too so I feel like I really progressed at Instructs.\r\n\r\n\"I went down to Florida and I was working on basically my release point, being more consistent with it and having that good tilt [on it] that I've shown at times.\r\n\r\n\"I went down there and worked with all of the coaches, and I improved tremendously. I just can't wait for next season. I'm ready to start pitching again.\"\r\n\r\nHe has a quality changeup at his disposal too even though it took more of a backseat to his slider in-season and during Instructs.\r\n\r\n\"We wanted to work more on having those two power pitches, the fastball-slider combo,\" he revealed. \"We talked about using the changeup and I used it a bit more in the playoffs.\r\n\r\n\"At Instructs we were still working more on that slider but this offseason I'm really going to be working on all three of my pitches, but the changeup is definitely going to be included. I'm planning on showing up to Spring Training with all three [pitches].\"\r\n\r\nA power pitcher who can change speeds and has a bit more consistency now with his breaking pitch, Arneson is clearly excited about trying his hand in the long-season leagues next year.\r\n\r\n\"I'm really excited, especially after getting hurt. That was kind of a bummer. I only threw something like 17 innings but coming out of Instructs and feeling good with all of my stuff – I'm excited to work on the changeup too – I can't wait to get out there and do it for a full season,\" he concluded.\r\n\r\n

\r\n

\r\n

\r\n

Are you a monthly or 3-month subscriber to PinstripesPlus.com? Why not get two months free AND get 4 issues of our PinstripesPlus Magazine included by becoming an annual subscriber? Upgrade today to get the most out of your subscription.